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Ludwick recovering from bruised left elbow

Ludwick recovering from bruised left elbow

Ryan Ludwick

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NEW YORK -- Reds outfielder Ryan Ludwick was slated to be the team's designated hitter for at least two of the three games this weekend vs. the Yankees. Through two games, he hasn't been in the lineup.

Ludwick was still smarting a little from being hit by a pitch vs. the Mets on Thursday. Amazingly, he had a large bruise on his left elbow after being hit by knuckleballer R.A. Dickey leading off the fifth inning.

"We just worked on it. It feels a lot better," Ludwick said on Saturday. "It kind of got the right spot I guess. It's the second-most swelling I've ever gotten on a hit-by-pitch besides when I got a broken arm. It's probably one of the softest pitches I've ever been hit by. It was a 77-mph pitch, but it didn't have knuckleball rotation on it. It came straight in. First batter he's hit all year."

Reds manager Dusty Baker wasn't concerned about Ludwick, who is batting just .183 on the season. Rookie Mike Costanzo started as the DH.

"[Ludwick] probably could have played today, but I wanted to play Costanzo today and Ludwick tomorrow," Baker said. "We've got to get another left-hander in this ballpark with the short right porch."